Nashville SEAL: SEAL Brotherhood: Nashville SEALs by Sharon Hamilton Page A

this. We are all one unit. No one else understands what we do or why. We never know who ordered it or why some guy at the Head Shed decided it was a good idea to do X, Y, and Z. We don’t know what political party he’s a part of, because the war doesn’t discriminate by political party, race, religion, or sex. Dr. Death is an equal opportunity employer. And he’ll claim as many as he can get away with.
    The difference is, our families are more at risk than they ever have been. Make no mistake. You won’t get out of this life before you know someone personally who has given his or her life to save our great country from its enemies.”
    Jameson was left in awe of the man he hoped to serve under.

Chapter 14
    ‡
    L izzie settled into a routine over the next few months that kept her busy. She was hired part-time working in the elementary school Charlotte would more than likely attend since she held a teaching credential. She was hoping that by the time Charlotte was ready for kindergarten or first grade, her job would become full-time and permanent.
    The time went by fast. Charlotte was very social, and at times Lizzie had trouble keeping up with her activities and play dates. She enrolled her in gymnastics and dance classes. But there wasn’t a day that went by where she didn’t think of him. When she didn’t hear from him, she decided it was best to leave things the way they were. In time, she knew he’d come walking into Charlotte’s life, probably with a wife and child of his own. She worked to make sure she was prepared for that day, when it would no doubt come.
    A couple of times during the holidays and into the spring, she traveled to Nashville and stayed with Kendra, so the girls could play and the two of them could catch up. Kendra had met an executive with one of the large hotel chains and had been able to do some traveling for minimal cost.
    Kendra had received a promotion, so they decided to go out on the town. Kendra used a sitter from the local high school she’d used on several occasions when the two of them went out to dinner or to catch a movie. Tonight, they were going to hit the Highway to Heaven, since neither of them had been there in over six months.
    When the sitter arrived, Kendra waved good-bye to the girl’s mother, who had dropped her off. “Thanks for coming on such short notice, Maureen.”
    “No problem. I have a ton of reading to get caught up on.”
    Lizzie and Kendra were silent all the way over to The Highway. Lizzie thought the crowd was larger than she remembered, and it also had a younger vibe. She found Thomas at his usual perch on one of the stools at the bar in the shadows. His guitar case was down by his boots.
    “I come back here after all this time, and who do I find?” She watched him struggle to lean over and take her hand.
    “I been waiting for you, darlin’.”
    Lizzie thought he appeared even scruffier than before. His jacket had a coffee stain on the breast pocket, which was slightly ripped, like it had been caught on something. His hair wasn’t clean, and his face a little sallow. She immediately picked up that Thomas wasn’t his usual healthy self.
    “Thomas, I want you to meet my girlfriend, Kendra.”
    “Nice to meet you, Thomas, is it?” Kendra was polite but declined to shake his hand.
    “Yes, ma’am,” he said, as he tipped his hat to her, then removed it, and placed it on the counter. Lizzie saw the red spider veins in his cheeks and on one side of his nose.
    “You playing tonight, Thomas?”
    “No, ma’am. But I come prepared anyway, just in case they need the backup quarterback. I actually have a better chance to get on stage now that Jameson is gone.”
    Lizzy’s heart raced. “Gone?”
    “Oh, not dead, sweetheart.” He winked at her indicating he might be a bit drunk but his observation skills were still sharp. “Gone as in he’s off to San Diego. Finishing up his qualifying. The guy actually made it through the SEAL